Valve



L. ATWOODI Y 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

VALVE (No Model.)

1%. 401,240. Patented Apr. 9 1889.

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INVENTORZ N. PETERS Phob-Lllhugrnphcn wmmmm; n cy L. ATWOOD. 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

VALVE;

(No Model.)

N. PETERS. Pnmn-Lnho n her, Washington. D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEONARD ATWOOD, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

'VALV E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 401,240, dated April 9, 1889.

' Application filed January 5, 1889. Serial No. 295,492. (No model.)

' tion.

My invention has special reference to what are known as three-wayvalves, and is especially applicable to hydraulic elevators where the valve is used to control the entrance of the water into thecylinder and from the cylinder into the waste-pipe, although it may be used for other purposes.

In this specification I will describe my valve as used with hydraulic elevators, although I do not intend to limit myself to its use with the hydraulic elevator only. In the valves ordinarily used with hydraulic elevators one of the movements of said valve is in direction of the movement of the water, while the other movement is against the direction of movement of water. When the movement is in the direction of the water, a slight movement of the valve will open it sufficiently to allow the water to accelerate the opening, causing the valve to open too rapidly. Again, in the ordinary construction of valve used with hydraulic elevators, when the valve is closed, so that the water is prevented from entering the cylinder, and the exhaust or waste valve is also closed, the sudden stoppage of the elevator causes a great force to be exerted upon the water in the cylinder, due to the inertia of the falling car, which is directly proportional to the weight of the elevator, its load, and speed of falling, and, the water being incompressible, a jar or shock is always produced, and the cylinder is sometimes fractured. These defects, as will hereinafter appear, are avoided by the use of my improved valve.

' In the drawings, in which similar letters denote similar parts, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved valve. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the seat of my improved valve. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of my improved valve and seat, showing inlet-pipe, pipe to cylinder, and discharge-pipe, with both the inlet and the discharge valve ports closed.

Fig. 4: is a sectional view of -'valve-seat, inletpipe, pipe to cylinder, and discharge-pipe, also showing valve-stem and gear for operating the valve, showing ports open to admit water to the cylinder and the discharge being closed. Fig. 5 is a sectional view same as Fig. 4:, with discharge-ports open and cylinderports closed.

A represents the valve, A being the pressure portion of said valve, and A" being the discharge portion.

13 represents the valve-seats, composed of parts B B", corresponding to parts A A". The pressure or cylinder portion of the valve is made. in the form of a frustum of a cone, and its seat is a corresponding frustum of a cone of a slightly smaller size sufficient to make a close fit when both are polished surfaces. The discharge portion of the valve is also in the formof a frusturn of a cone, but the reverse of that of the pressure portion. The valve-seat of the discharge portion corresponds to its valve in the same manner as the pressure portion and its seat correspond. As may be seen, the valve thus rests securely on its seat, the seat being provided with an externalsurrounding ring, 0.

D D, &c., are the pressure-ports, and E E, &c., the vdischarge-ports. These ports are made preferably in quadrilateral form, so that whenthe valve is turned the ports in passing over the corresponding openings in the seat will cause the valve to open gradually, and thus prevent a too sudden admission or discharge of the water, although these ports may be made of other forms, if desired.

F is the valvestem; f, a spring surrounding said valve-stem.

G is a bevel-gear, one wheel of which is connected to the valve-stem.

H is a pulley or wheel upon the shaft I, upon which shaft is also one of the bevel gearwheels. This wheel H carries the operatingcord, which passes through to the car, said cord being used to operate the valves to start and stop the elevator.

J is a pipe which admits the water from the source of pressure.

K is the pipe which leads to the cylinder be which the elevator is operated.

L is the discharge-pipe.

The operation is as follows: The valve being in the position shown in Fig. 3, the operator moves the cord, which, through the inder portion of the valve to remain closed,

while the ports in the discharge portion of the valve are in such a position that they are over corresponding openings in the seat of the exhaust portion of the valve, when the Water from the cylinder passes out through the discharge-ports into the discharge-pipe and the elevator descends.

In my improved device the danger of jarring the car and splitting the cylinder caused by stopping the entrance of the water in the cylinder suddenly without providing any discharge from the cylinder is obviated as follows: If the pressure-ports be closed suddenly, the water in the cylinder can pass through the openings in the valve-seat of the discharge portion of the valve and come between the valve and its seat, lifting up the valve off the seat, compressing the spring,

hereinbefore described, surrounding the stem, and allowing the water to pass over into the discharge-pipe. WVhen the pressure of the water is removed either by the opening of the exhaust-ports or the pressure-ports, the spring causes the valve to return to its seat.

My construction and combination of the valve and seat allow a more certain and rapid manipulation of the valve on account of the fact that in no case is the movement of the valve either with or against the direction of movement of the water and form of the valve and its seat. Both being highly ground makes a perfectly water-tight connection and still allows a rotary movement of the valve upon its seat with the exercise of only a slight force.

The form and construction of my valve and seat are such that no packing is required to make a water-tight joint, which is a great advantage over the old forms of valves, which require packing, and the packing constantly wears and necessitates replacing and the valves often leak.

The form of the ports as hereinbefore set out prevents the entrance or discharge of the water suddenly and causes it to enter and discharge gradually.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. A three-way valve provided with pressure and exhaust portions, each in the form of a frustum of a cone, the exhaust being a reverse from that of the pressure and valve seat corresponding with said valve, with which said valve forms a water-tight joint, but upon which it is capable of rotating, and ports in the pressure and exhaust portions of the valve and the corresponding seat portions, the position of the ports being such that when the ports of either portion of the valve are open the ports in the otherportion are closed.

2. A three-Way valve provided with pressure and exhaust portions, each in the form of a frustum of a cone, the exhaust being a reverse cone from that of the pressure and valve seat corresponding with said valve with which said valve forms a water-tight joint,

but upon which it is capable of rotating, and quadrilateral ports in the pressure and exhaust portions of the valve and the corresponding seat portions, the position of the ports being such that when the ports of either portion of the valve are open the ports in the other portion are closed.

3. In combination, a three-way valve pro vided with pressure and exhaust portions, each in the form of a frustum of a cone, the

exhaust being a reverse cone from that of the pressure and valve seat corresponding with said valve, with which said valve forms a water-tight joint, but upon which it is capable of rotating, and ports in the pressure and exhaust portions of the valve and the corresponding seat portions, a valve-stem, and a spring surrounding said valve-stem.

4. In combination, a three-way valve provided with pressure and exhaust portions, each in the form of a frustum of a cone, the exhaust being areverse cone from that of the pressure and valve seat corresponding with said valve, with which said valve forms a water-tight joint, but upon which it is capable of rotating, ports in the pressure and exhaust portions of the valve and the corresponding seat portions, a valve-stem, and means, substantially as described, to operate said valvestem and rotate said valve upon its seat.

5. In combination, a three-way valve provided with pressure and exhaust portions, each in the form of a frustum of a cone, the exhaust portion being a reverse cone from that of the pressure and valve seat corresponding with said valve, with which said valve forms a water-tight joint, but upon which it is capable of rotating, ports in the pressure and exhaust portions of the valve and the corresponding seat portions, avalvestem, and bevel gear, whereby, when the bevel-gear is operated, the valve is rotated on its seat.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

LEONARD ATWOOD.

Witnesses: I G. I. HARDING, RIoHn. S. CHILD, Jr. 

